Stags' midfielder Neal Bishop has said that David Flitcroft's intensive Portugal training regime is instilling a 'winning mentality' into the Mansfield Town squad.

Bishop recently made the switch from Scunthorpe United to join the Stags, having made 37 appearances for The Iron last season.

The vastly-experienced midfielder says he has settled in to life as a Mansfield Town player, and is enjoying the 'tough but fair' coaching style that the Stags' boss applies.

"[I've settled in] very well. The lads have all been brilliant," he said.

"Coming away to a place like this [Portugal] helps, because you're in each other's company 24 hours a day.

"They're tough days, but the gaffer isn't asking us to do anything we can't do. It's tough, but fair. We're all relishing it.

"It helps create that winning mentality. That desire to work, to run and want to win."

Neal Bishop, midfielder

"You get into football for challenges and this certainly is a challenge. We're doing two, three, four sessions a day.

"It's great work and the lads are dragging each other through.

"It helps create that winning mentality. That desire to work, to run and want to win."

Bishop added that he is looking forward to the challenge that Portuguese outfit Vitoria FC will bring to the training match between the two sides on Saturday.

"It's the first game so you're looking to get your awareness back, your positional settings, your spacial awareness," he said. "You can do all the training sessions you want, but when it comes to the 90 minutes of competitive football, it's completely different.

"All the lads have worked immensely hard for two weeks. I can't speak highly enough of the effort they've put in and what we've bought into.

"This is what you look forward to. You always look forward to the first game. We're more than ready for it on Saturday."

The midfielder also explained that the winning mentality the team are building in pre-season will put them in good stead for a successful campaign.

"There's some really talented players [in the squad], lads with ability. We've had some young lads with us this week and they've stepped up to the plate.

"The experienced lads like myself, it's our responsibility to drag them through and to help, to encourage, and to build that team mentality.

"That's what it's all about. It's 46 hard league games and we want promotion. Let's not shy away from that. We're building that mentality every day."